BEIJING, July 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — From four-legged inspection robots operating in European nuclear power plants to automatic coffee-making robotic arms serving travelers at airports and transit hubs around the globe and smart AI systems supporting local Chinese teaching in Thai schools, these varied overseas applications offer a vivid snapshot of how China’s “next new three” industries are expanding globally.

Labeled the “next new three,” AI, robotics and innovative drugs represent China’s new core strategic industries and fresh economic growth engines. Their rise marks a major upgrade in China’s industrial and export model. More importantly, this industrial shift is delivering open, inclusive and innovative solutions to support global industrial upgrading and shared development, experts said.

From ‘old three’ to ‘next new three’ 

For decades, China established its global manufacturing foothold by leveraging its labor-cost advantages, with apparel, furniture and home appliances becoming the iconic “old three” of Chinese exports.

In recent years, the export portfolio has undergone a remarkable green and tech transformation. Electric vehicles (EVs), lithium batteries and photovoltaic products, known as the “new three,” have become the backbone of China’s export growth.

Recent industry data demonstrates the strong growth potential of the “next new three” tech sectors: AI, robotics and innovative drugs.

Statistics from global AI platform OpenRouter show that domestic large models registered 36.11 trillion token calls in the week of July 13 to 19, a month-on-month increase of 30.93 percent, with growth sustained for eight straight weeks, according to the People’s Daily.

In the first half of the year, the country’s robotics exports reached 6.29 billion yuan ($929 million), covering 141 countries and regions with the exports of high-end surgical robots recording a striking 3.3-fold year-on-year increase. 

Meanwhile, China’s innovative pharmaceutical sector has gained strong global influence, with outbound technology licensing transactions hitting $110 billion in the first six months of the year. Chinese pharmaceutical companies accounted for eight of the world’s top 10 pharmaceutical licensing deals.

Wang Peng, a research fellow at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Sunday that the rise of the “next new three” represents China’s industrial shift from exporting manufacturing capacity to exporting high-end innovation.

Competition now centers on original research, core underlying technologies and related services rather than production volume and costs, Wang said.

He noted that these industries help Chinese businesses move up the value chain from assembly processing to research and development, technical services and standard-setting, strengthening China’s position in global industrial chains. 

Mirroring this trend, from January to May this year, China’s total services trade volume rose 6 percent year-on-year, while the services trade deficit narrowed by around 20 percent. Exports of knowledge-intensive services surged 12.2 percent, highlighting the continuous improvement of China’s services export competitiveness and the optimized structure of foreign trade, according to the People’s Daily.

While the “new three” underpin China’s foreign trade fundamentals, the “next new three” seize the commanding heights of future industries. Jointly, they shore up China’s long-term economic competitiveness and inject sustained impetus into high-quality growth, Wang said.

Inclusive technological progress

China’s high-quality exports of products and services have contributed to more inclusive technological progress to the global market, reflecting Chinese enterprises’ core strengths in independent technological research, business model innovation and the ability to integrate global resources, as well as China’s commitment to driving global development and benefiting humanity through technological openness.

Chinese startup DEEP Robotics told the Global Times that its quadruped robot intelligent inspection solution has been officially deployed at Switzerland’s Leibstadt Nuclear Power Plant, the largest and highest-output nuclear facility in the European country, providing a Chinese solution for the digital and intelligent upgrading of nuclear power operations and maintenance across Europe.

The quadruped robot can replace human workers to access high-risk areas, perform precise operations and conduct high-frequency regular autonomous inspections 24/7, fundamentally cutting safety risks for on-site maintenance staff. It can also move flexibly through narrow corridors and gaps between dense equipment, covering all key inspection points and significantly reducing monitoring blind spots that traditional inspection devices cannot reach, the firm said.

Chinese robotic firm DoBot told the Global Times that in the commercial services sector, coffee robots equipped with its Nova series collaborative robotic arms have been operating stably in more than 20 types of venues including airports, high-speed railway stations and shopping malls globally, with a track record of producing hundreds of thousands of cups without reported malfunctions.

Overseas landmark applications include unattended Coca-Cola beverage stations along the Mediterranean coast, mobile coffee kiosks in the United Arab Emirates that serve a drink within 45 seconds, and self-operated food trucks deployed in shopping malls in Singapore, the company said.

Chinese AI company iFLYTEK said that its AI-powered intelligent teaching system has helped expand Chinese language learning worldwide and supported the digital development of Chinese education in overseas markets. 

Since a Thai middle school adopted iFLYTEK’s AI-powered intelligent Chinese teaching system in 2025, the technology has acted as a supplementary teaching solution amid growing local demand for Chinese learning and a shortage of qualified language instructors. It has greatly expanded students’ practice opportunities: On average, learners now speak Chinese 12 times per session, compared with only twice in regular classes, Xie Fei, director of iFLYTEK’s Global Chinese Learning Platform, said on Sunday.

From industrial robots to boost production efficiency for local factories to AI algorithms that improve local smart ecosystems, China’s “next new three” allow countries at all development levels to access benefits from advanced technologies and narrow the global digital divide, Wang said.

By building a sound global industrial network and rolling out customized technology solutions tailored to local conditions, these technological exports help recipient countries nurture their own industrial capacities and climb up the value chain to move higher up the industrial value chain. In the long run, such efforts will drive the global industrial system toward greater diversification and more balanced development, Wang noted.

HELSINKI, July 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 

• Aalto Works, comprising thirteen landmark buildings in Finland designed by the pioneering modernist architects Aino, Elissa and Alvar Aalto, has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
• Five of the buildings are in Helsinki: The Aalto House, Studio Aalto, National Pensions Institute (KELA), House of Culture and Finlandia Hall.
• The Finnish capital is the ideal base exploring the Aalto Works thanks to its location at the centre of the country’s transport network. Each of the five Helsinki buildings is accessible using the city’s public transport.
• Helsinki offers a complete experience for those interested in the Aaltos’ legacy with Finlandia Hall’s permanent exhibition Visions of Alvar Aalto on the lives and work of the Aaltos and the Architecture and Design Museum exhibition ‘Aalto Design: Shapes of Wellbeing’ running until January 2027.

Aalto Works, a collection of thirteen landmark buildings in Finland designed by the pioneering modernist architects Aino, Elissa and Alvar Aalto, has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, recognising the global significance of a body of work that helped shape modern architecture and influenced approaches to design and wellbeing around the world.

For visitors, Helsinki is an ideal starting point to experience the newly designated World Heritage Site. Five of the thirteen buildings are located in the Finnish capital, representing the highest concentration of Aalto sites anywhere within the UNESCO designation. Together they offer a unique insight into the architects’ human-centred approach to architecture, design and everyday living.

The designation was awarded at the annual meeting of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Busan, South Korea, following a nomination submitted in 2025 by the Ministry of Education and Culture, and prepared by The Finnish Heritage Agency in cooperation with the Alvar Aalto Foundation, ICOMOS Finland, and the owners of the Aalto sites.

Known collectively as the Aalto Works, UNESCO World Heritage site, the buildings were selected not simply as examples of outstanding architecture, but as places that demonstrate how design can support wellbeing, equality and community life. Their influence extends far beyond Finland and continues to shape architectural thinking internationally.

Daniel Sazonov, Mayor of Helsinki:

“The inclusion of the Aalto Works on the UNESCO World Heritage List represents a wonderful and significant international recognition of Finnish architecture. The five Helsinki sites are important parts of our city’s architectural and cultural heritage. UNESCO status brings new visibility to the sites, while also reminding us Helsinki residents of our beautiful and architecturally rich hometown.”

The five Helsinki buildings included in the Aalto Works, UNESCO World Heritage site are:

The Aalto House, Photo: Tuomas Uusheimo, Helsinki Partners

The Aalto House (completed 1936)

The Aaltos’ family home in Munkkiniemi, a suburb of Helsinki dominated by private villas. The house reflects the architects’ interest in combining functionality, comfort and natural materials within everyday living environments.

Studio Aalto, Photo: Tuomas Uusheimo, Helsinki Partners

Studio Aalto (completed 1955)

The Studio Aalto, containing the architects’ office, social facilities and a caretaker’s apartment, was built in the suburb of Munkkiniemi, a short distance from the family home. Both are open to visitors by arrangement. The Studio creates an inspiring and highly functional workspace through the use of remarkably simple, everyday materials. Unique natural-lighting and spatial solutions were also implemented throughout the building.

National Pensios Institute KELA, Photo: Tuomas Uusheimo, Helsinki Partners

National Pensions Institute KELA (completed 1956)

The main office of the state pension system. The key aspect of the architecture is its interior design. Lighting solutions based on both artificial and natural light serve the different purposes of the office building. The building forms its own block in the middle of Helsinki’s Töölö city district. The building is located close to the city centre, set back slightly from Mannerheimintie, the city’s main thoroughfare

House of Culture, Photo: Tuomas Uusheimo, Helsinki Partners

House of Culture (completed in 1958) 

Built by the Communist Party of Finland with the goal of “making culture the property of the entire nation”, The House of Culture is a landmark in Helsinki’s cityscape and represents the consolidation of modernist architecture. The House of Culture originally comprised facilities for community activities, such as dance, cinema, concerts, boxing, wrestling, choirs, gymnastics, theatre, singing and other clubs as well as for larger gatherings.

Finlandia Hall, Photo: Tuomas Uusheimo, Helsinki Partners

Finlandia Hall (completed 1971)

A monumental concert and congress hall that sits adjacent to the National Museum of Finland and the Parliament House in central Helsinki. Modern ideas about a better world shared by nations and cultures were the driving force behind the building’s architectural solutions, which to this day hosts various national and international congresses, meetings and events.

The largest Aalto work in Helsinki, the Finlandia Hall convention centre was refurbished between 2022 and 2025 and now offers short-stay residences available to let to the general public, along with a rich programme of cultural events. The two flats, named Aino and Elissa, are decorated with Aalto-designed furniture and homeware, offering guests the opportunity to experience the Aalto lifestyle within an architectural icon. 

Hanna Harris, Chief Design Officer of Helsinki: 

“The Aaltos’ human-centred approach shows how design can enrich everyday life and shape the way we experience our surroundings. In Helsinki, we are fortunate to have a remarkable legacy of their work, from public buildings and cultural venues to the objects and spaces that people use every day.

“That legacy continues to influence how we think about design today – design operates at the scale of the city, not only as cultural expression but as an essential part of everyday life, helping us create services, places and experiences that support residents and visitors.”

Tommi Lindh, CEO of the Alvar Aalto Foundation:

“The Aalto Works series is unique from both a national and an international perspective. Until this designation, Finland had no sites of modern architecture on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

“These sites demonstrate the universal value of the Aaltos’ human-centred approach to architecture and design, which brought together functionality, beauty and a deep understanding of people’s everyday lives. Their inscription recognises the Aaltos’ lasting influence on modern architecture worldwide and the enduring importance of creating environments that support human wellbeing, community and cultural identity across generations.”

Johanna Tolonen, CEO at Finlandia Hall:

“Speaking from Busan, where we are celebrating the recognition of the Aaltos’ work by UNESCO, I’m reminded how Helsinki is a must-visit destination for any architecture lover, and we’re lucky to have perhaps the most significant concentration of buildings by the Aaltos anywhere in the world. This is the city they called home and their legacy remains part of our daily lives.

“Finlandia Hall is delighted to offer the public the opportunity to visit and stay in a UNESCO listed building. Our refurbished spaces faithfully preserve the Aaltos’ design intent. In addition to our offer as a conference venue for businesses and associations, our public offer gives visitors the chance to meet, work, dine, and even stay overnight in a complete work of architecture designed at the peak of the Aaltos’ international renown.”

Alvar Aalto (1898 – 1976) and his wives Aino (1894 – m.1925 – 1949) and Elissa (1922 – m.1952 – 1994) are jointly responsible for one of the most significant and influential bodies of work within twentieth century architecture. Widely credited with introducing a humanist warmth and materiality to the emerging style of Modernism, their work has influenced subsequent generations of architects internationally.

The Aaltos’ work encompassed textile design, homewares, glass, furniture, lighting, with many of their buildings embodying the concept of gesamtkunstwerk – total work of art – where every element from the door handles to the light fittings and plant pots was designed by the studio to create harmonious, coherent and humane spaces that came to represent societal progress and rising living standards in Finland and beyond.

PRESS ENQUIRIES

Please contact:

Ben James, ING Media
ben.james@ing-media.com,
+44 (0)7534 970 728

Leena Karppinen, Helsinki Partners
leena.karppinen@helsinkipartners.com

NOTES

The Aaltos

Aino Marsio-Aalto (1894–1949) was a nationally and internationally recognized architect, designer, and interior architect, as well as one of the founders of Artek. She worked alongside her spouse as an equal partner in design and, as Artek’s first artistic director, created the company’s distinctive style. As a designer, Aino Aalto is especially known for her glassware.

Elissa Aalto (1922–1994) was a Finnish architect and Alvar Aalto’s longtime collaborator and spouse, who had a significant influence on the operations of Aalto’s office in the postwar period. From the 1950s onward, she played a central role in the firm’s major building projects. After her husband’s death, Elissa led the office, completed unfinished projects, and participated in planning the restoration of Aalto’s buildings.

Alvar Aalto (1898–1976) was a Finnish architect and designer who rose to iconic status both nationally and internationally. He is known as a key pioneer of humane modernism. Aalto’s architecture has been proposed for inclusion on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, with a decision expected in 2026.

Aalto Works

All of the sites in the Aalto Works proposal represent modern Finnish architecture and design from the 1920s to 1980s. Its influence on the construction of the national welfare state and the promotion of communal well-being is seen as having global significance.

The Aalto Works also play a major role in the tradition of international modernism. Aalto’s modern architecture is characterised by a humane approach, in which buildings are settings for human life and activities. Aalto’s holistic design includes the buildings’ furniture and interior design, right down to the smallest detail. In the world of international modernism, the freeform design language and material choices in Aalto’s architecture are also tied to a special relationship with nature, which is manifest in the carefully thought-out solutions that connect people, buildings and the environment. The closest international counterparts to the Aalto Works are the modern-architecture sites by Le Corbusier and Frank Lloyd Wright, which were approved for UNESCO’s World Heritage List in the 2010s.

The Aalto Works series includes:

Sunila Pulp Mill residential area, 1936–38, 1947, 1951–54, Kotka

Paimio Sanatorium, 1929–33, Paimio

Säynätsalo Town Hall, 1949–52, Jyväskylä

Seinäjoki Civic Centre, 1951–87, Seinäjoki

National Pensions Institute (KELA), 1953–57, Helsinki

Finlandia Hall, 1962/1967–75, Helsinki

The Aalto House, 1935–36, Helsinki

Studio Aalto, 1954–55, 1962–63, Helsinki

Muuratsalo Experimental House, 1952–54, Jyväskylä

House of Culture, 1952–58, Helsinki

University of Jyväskylä, Aalto campus, 1951–71, Jyväskylä

Church of Three Crosses, 1956–58, Imatra

Villa Mairea, 1938–39, Pori

The World Heritage List currently includes seven sites in Finland: the cultural sites Old Rauma; Suomenlinna Sea Fortress; Petäjävesi Old Church; Verla Groundwood and Board Mill; Sammallahdenmäki Bronze Age Burial Site; Struve Geodetic Arc; and the nature site the Kvarken Archipelago.

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